Coming into spring practice, one of the biggest questions around the Missouri team was a lack of depth at linebacker. Only four linebackers had any significant playing experience.

"We don't really worry too much about them saying these people can or can't play," said sophomore Steve Redmond. "We don't worry too much about that. We just try to go out there and practice hard, learn from the last day's mistakes and just get better."

Redmond will be asked to help depth-wise on the linebacking corps this fall and is happy with his progress in the spring.

"I'm a lot more comfortable than I was last spring," said the Rockhurst graduate. "Last spring I had, not unrealistic expectations, but they were a little high for me moving from one position to another and trying to learn the lingo and make plays. This spring, I came in a lot more comfortable, the lingo was the same, didn't change a lot. It was all about just making plays."

But it is another emergence that may give Tiger fans a better feeling about the depth at linebacker. Chad Washington moved from defensive back to linebacker prior to spring and has made numerous plays over the last few practices.

"That's really been good," said head coach Gary Pinkel. "He has great speed and change of direction, he's got a nose for the football. I was talking to his brother Calvin the other day and I said, that's just really a good move for us, having him in there."